TALLADEGA, Ala. -- One of NASCAR's longest days in recent memory could have been worse if not for the arrival of a new superhero: The Air Titan.

Sunday's race at Talladega Superspeedway was the first time the air-blowing machines invented by NASCAR were used in a Sprint Cup Series race. The rain delay was cut to three hours, 36 minutes, and as along as that sounds, it's better than the alternative, which likely would have been a rain-shortened race

Though the Talladega experience was cold, damp and long — at seven hours, five inutes — it was certainly a day to remember thanks to the Air Titans — small, rectangular contraptions that force standing water off the track in waves.

Instead of calling the race after a one-two punch of afternoon storms, NASCAR kept trying to dry the track. Though that may not have been a good thing for Carl Edwards — who was leading during the rain delay and finished third — most everyone else was glad to see the end of the race, especially winner David Ragan.

Thanks to a 1:07 p.m. ET green flag, it had already been a long day by the time the first rain shower hit. In the morning, the sun shone brightly and fans happily chatted in the garage. One topic was the incorrect predictions of those silly, misguided weather forecasters.

Then the rains came with 63 laps to go, and the forecasters turned out to be exactly right.

Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Home Depot / Husky Toyota, leads the field into turn three during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 5, 2013 in Talladega, Alabama.
Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images

Danica Patrick, driver of the #10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet talks with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #17 Best Buy Ford, as the race was under caution due to rain during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway.
Jerry Markland, Getty Images

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After the initial storm, many fans remained in the stands and seemed determined to wait it out. The sun popped out again.

Then an ugly yellow and orange and red blob showed up on the radar and manifested itself into a heavy downpour. It even hailed. Crew chiefs were urged to tie down all their equipment; fans were told to seek shelter under the grandstands.

The soaking left NASCAR officials estimating a 2 1/2-hour drying process, which suddenly produced more skepticism about the Air Titan than Area 51.

"Air Titan! Biggest thing since The Bridge to No Where!!!" SPEED television analyst Kyle Petty tweeted.

Many fans left. Those who remained shivered in their wet seats, trying to stay enthusiastic. At one point, a few hundred even sang along to Sweet Caroline.

But when the Air Titan helped dry the track approximately 45 minutes sooner than expected — leaving enough daylight to finish the race — its abilities suddenly took on a Chuck Norris level of myth.

"The Air Titan doesn't just push water off the track, it pushes the Earth down," the Twitter account for Stewart-Haas Racing tweeted. "The Air Titan's last job before coming to (Talladega): the Mojave Desert."

The remaining fans in the grandstands let out a big cheer as the drivers returned to their cars and returned to racing at 7:04 p.m. ET. The race finished in the fading light.